What to expect from Diego Cocca as National Coach
Earlier this month, a revamped National Teams Commission of the FEMEXFUT, announced the arrival of Argentinean coach, Diego Cocca, as the new head coach of the Mexican National Team.
Immediately, many voices in both the media and the fans clamoured that Diego Cocca was not the ideal coach to head the national team. Perhaps it was because many fans and media favourites were in fact sought after by the FEMEXFUT. They included the likes of Guillermo Almada, Miguel Herrera, and Ignacio Ambriz as well former Liga MX coaches such as Antonio Mohamed and Marcelo Bielsa. Save Marcelo Bielsa, all the other options that were explored had been Liga MX champions. In the case of Mohamed, he won thrice with three different teams, Xolos, America and Monterrey; while Cocca and Herrera had won twice with the same Club, Atlas and America respectively. Almada came in as the current Liga MX monarch while Ambriz lost that final Against Almeida’s Pachuca with Toluca, having previously won the title with Leon in 2020.
In sum, they were all quite successful in their clubs, while Bielsa is vastly considered one of the most influential coaches in modern times, indeed his spells at both America and particularly at Atlas in the 1990’s are still fondly remembered by fans and media alike.
But focusing on Cocca and his style of play, what is to be expected from him at the national team? The most immediate answer could lay on the historic two years where he led Atlas to two back to back titles after a drought of over 70 years. That team is remembered as having a rock solid defense, they allowed only 10 goals in 17 games in the regular season of their first title and 15 goals in 17 games the next regular season. A dynamic and well-oiled midfield that supported the defense and was able to transition quickly to dangerous positions in the opponent’s half, all while being studded with experienced Mexican players such as José Abella, Édgar Zaldívar, Aldo Rocha and Luis Reyes. To top this, two inspired Julio Furch and Julian Quiñones were in charge of converting the chances generated by their team in quick counterattacks. In short, a dynamic and well disciplined team that relied on the strength of the defense line, the ductility and dynamism of their midfield and the punch of their attackers. This is what made Atlas such a tough team to beat in 2021, a team that would ultimately write a glorious page in the Club’s history. But these elements may not be as effective when Cocca tries to transpose them to the National team. From the inability to train as a team week after week to the reluctance of European teams to cede players for CONCACAF tournaments, the tight soccer machine that at one point he was able to achieve with Atlas might prove more elusive to reach at the national level.
Outside of Atlas, and unlike the other candidates, who had numerous successful spells at various clubs, in and out of Mexico, Diego Cocca doesn’t really have much else to show for. His stay with three other teams in Mexico –Santos, Xolos and Tigres– were forgettable at best. In fact, an alarming data point has emerged after he got the media scrutiny that generally surrounds the national team. That is, in his close to four years coaching in Mexico, he only has debuted one Mexican player (https://www.tvazteca.com/aztecadeportes/diego-cocca-debuto-alonso-escoboza), namely Alonso Escoboza back in 2011 with Santos. A revealing fact that paints the new head coach in not the most appealing of ways.
It is not that Diego Cocca is not a good coach or that he hasn’t proved his value in Mexican soccer, but considering the choices that the FEMEXFUT had, it definitely feels that we ended up with the lesser of those choices, albeit it being a ‘good one’. The longing and emptiness that comes after what could have been will accompany Mexican soccer fans as long as Cocca remains head coach, and will only increase or dissipate as he and his team play along.
